Summary
This analysis uses data from the Office for National Statistics UK Coronavirus (Covid-19) Infection Survey data to estimate the prevalence of self-reported Long Covid in the UK.
Content
Key points from the analysis include:
- An estimated 1.2 million people living in private households in the UK (1.9% of the population) were experiencing self-reported Long Covid (symptoms persisting for more than four weeks after the first suspected coronavirus infection that were not explained by something else) as of 31 October 2021; this is consistent with the 1.2 million (1.9%) seen as of 2 October 2021.
- The estimates presented in this analysis relate to self-reported Long Covid, as experienced by study participants who responded to a representative survey.
- Of people with self-reported Long Covid, 232,000 (19%) first had (or suspected they had) Covid-19 less than 12 weeks previously; 862,000 people (71%) first had (or suspected they had) Covid-19 at least 12 weeks previously, and 439,000 (36%) first had (or suspected they had) Covid-19 at least one year previously.
- The proportion of people with self-reported Long Covid who reported that it reduced their ability to carry out daily activities remained stable compared with previous months; symptoms adversely affected the day-to-day activities of 775,000 people (64%), with 232,000 (19%) reporting that their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities had been “limited a lot”.
- Fatigue continued to be the most common symptom reported as part of individuals' experience of Long Covid (54%), followed by shortness of breath (36%), loss of smell (35%), and difficulty concentrating (28%).
- As a proportion of the UK population, prevalence of self-reported Long Covid remained greatest in people aged 35 to 69 years, females, people living in more deprived areas, those working in health or social care, and those with another activity-limiting health condition or disability.
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